Guest post by

I hate clichés, especially boxing clichés. These days, boxing in popular media is one tired cliché after another:               

• On the Waterfront: “I coulda been a contender.”
• Rocky: “Yo Adrienne!” and “Cut me, Mick.”
• Raging Bull: “Did you f*ck my wife?”

The cliché fighter is either the arrogant, grandiose, self-absorbed champion or the underachieving, sad sack whose life is filled with bad breaks. He (or now, she, thanks to Million Dollar Baby) is filled with out-of-the-ring demons. These clichés paint too narrow a picture of what boxing is really about.  

I love boxing. Besides being a writer, I also work in the fight game as a judge and I’m still a gym rat who regularly gets in the ring. Boxing is in my blood. I spend a good percentage of my discretionary time in boxing gyms and very few, if any, boxers fit the cliché descriptions.

In my new book, The Vegas Knockout, my protagonist, Duffy Dombrowski, is anything but the cliché. Here’s why:

• Duffy is a social worker fighter. Ninety-nine percent of professionals box as a second job.
• Duffy has more than one dimension just like the real-life fighters I know. Fighting is not who he is, it is what he does.
• If he takes a shot in the face, he feels it, unlike LaMotta or Balboa.
• Boxing lets him forget about his demons just for the moments he is in the ring, not exorcise them.
• Duffy is thoughtful, insightful and often lonely both in and out of the ring.
• Boxing is about facing what’s scary and keeping on when it isn’t easy. He doesn’t win every fight.
• Most fighters never get to fight for a title, and Duffy certainly doesn’t, but getting the opportunity to spar with a contender is almost as good.
• Many times the expectation is for Duffy to lose a fight without looking too bad. In the boxing world that’s known as a professional opponent. You can make a decent living just losing and looking good.

Boxing isn’t always easy. Sometimes a fighter needs to find other ways to get some wins in life. Maybe that’s why Duffy sticks his nose in other people’s business and puts himself in harm’s way. Maybe he’s just evening the score, or maybe that’s just the way he is.

Reviving the Tired Boxing Metaphor is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

The book is also blueprint for readers looking to create their own freedom. As I combed through thousands of pages of data (and tens of thousands of emails), I discovered some basic ingredients for start-up success. Here are a five of them: 

1. To be successful, find convergence between your interests and other people’s interests. Not every business based on a personal passion can be successful, but many passion-based businesses are successful. What’s the difference? The combination of passion and usefulness. Focus first and foremost on how your idea will improve the lives of others.
2. Put happiness in a box and sell it. The more astute business owners understood that their business met a clear emotional need. When it comes down to it, most people want to be happy—so relate your pitch to a specific thing that will add something positive to your customers’ lives.
3. Less is more. Almost everyone we talked with started their business for less than $ 1,000, and many for less than $ 100. In some cases, previous ventures that required more capital were unsuccessful. Instead of begging for money, many of our case studies learned a better approach is to bootstrap.
4. Everyone’s an expert at something. If you’re not sure what you’re good at, think about the questions that people frequently ask you. A lot of creative small businesses were crafted from careful listening, including the guy who makes $ 100,000 a year helping people book tickets with their Frequent Flyer Miles, and the New York City lawyer who left her practice to begin a private yoga studio in Washington, D.C.
5. Most people want to help. I wanted The $ 100 Startup to be very specific, so we asked everyone to provide a lot of details about their business, including how much money they made every year from the business. I expected some initial reluctance on this point, but almost everyone said, “If this information will help other people, I’m willing to share.”

The microbusiness revolution has officially arrived. There aren’t any excuses left, but there are plenty of opportunities. All over the world, people are starting small businesses based on something they love to do that improves the lives of others. If you’re reading this post, I hope you’ll be next! –Chris Guillebeau

Chris Guillebeau is the author of The Art of Non-Conformity, The $ 100 Startup and coauthor of Do More Great Work.

5 Tips for Starting a Business with $100 is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

I love the Instapaper format, but it’s getting too flaky about what it will and won’t send. Half the time, four or five articles are missing from my weekly bundle. Other times, article headers come through, but the body of the article is missing. And yes, I did make sure to keep the number of articles under the threshold number for the free version of the service.

So I tried setting up Readability for use with the Kindle. It’s a bit of a hassle. You need to do it all in this order…

1. Sign up for a Readability account at their website.

2. Go to your email in-box, find the new Readability email, click on the link it contains, to activate the account.

3. Install the browser addon.

4. Add the email address kindle@readability.com to your Account | Manage Your Kindle | Personal Document Settings | “Approved Personal Document E-mail List”.

5. Log in at the http://www.readability.com website, with your new sign-up details.

6. Use this page to tell Readability what your Kindle’s delivery email address is.

7. Go to Account settings and make sure “Privacy” | “Hide reading list” is ticked.

8. Set your keyboard shortcut in the options settings of the Readability browser add-on. You can also use the browser toolbar “armchair” graphic, which drops a menu that includes “Send to Kindle”.

But after doing all of this, I just could not get my Kindle to receive any Readability articles. Something obviously went wrong, but I’ve no idea what. Articles sent via Amazon’s own “Send to Kindle” print driver came through fine. Sorry, Readability. I really wanted to swop. I correctly and carefully jumped through all the hoops to set up the service. I triple-checked all my setup settings and email spellings. But you let me down at the most vital point — delivery of the actual article.

/Sigh/ Oh well, uninstalled. I guess it’s back to wrestling with Instapaper.

Readability vs. Instapaper is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

Guest post by Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award winner Jennifer Handford.

There is nothing ordinary about ordinary life. My favorite authors peek into a typical life and reveal something extraordinary: Anne Tyler, Sue Miller, and Wally Lamb exemplify this type of writing. No character is one-dimensional; each carries a tangled web of losses and regrets. These talented authors know just how to pick at the right thread, enough to loosen the entire knot.

At the core of my new book, Daughters for a Time, is a tangle of relationships. My protagonist, Helen, is straightjacketed by her past: a father who left and a mother who died. After being cared for by her competent older sister, Claire, Helen is now grown up and ready to start a family of her own. She believes that being a mother will heal her wounds and compensate for the daughterhood that was taken from her, but she is unable to get pregnant. Finally, Helen adopts and experiences the long-sought joy of holding her new daughter. Just then, she is blindsided by the worst possible news: Her sister has cancer.

I am fascinated by the notion that joy and grief fight for space in our lives. I was drawn to the idea that Helen found happiness—or at least peace—when she got what she wanted: a baby, the start of a family. But she also was losing Claire. This is an extreme example of being dealt the good with the bad, but it happens all the time.

Daughters revolves around two sisters with wildly different personalities. They are bonded by the past but not demonstrative with their affection. They offend and get offended. They hold secrets and perpetuate half-truths. If they weren’t sisters, they might not have chosen each other as friends. When Claire gets sick, though, new roles emerge and regret bubbles to the surface.

As Claire’s illness progresses, the sisters grow closer. Confessions are made; grief surrenders to affection. Helen becomes a surrogate for her sister’s pain but also a vessel for her joy, as she tends to her niece alongside her daughter. Helen never wanted Claire to die, but it takes Claire dying in order for Helen to live.

The roles we play define who we are. At one point, Helen realizes that each of the women in her life was somebody’s daughter, but each had been robbed of that position. This strikes Helen as terribly sad, because who wouldn’t want to be a daughter forever?

In the ordinary we find the extraordinary, lives that reveal themselves in one way over another. We pluck at one strand in the knotted ball and make the tangle tighter; we pluck at another and set the entire knot free.

Extraordinary People: Jennifer Handford’s “Daughters for a Time” is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

/ p> Editors Mays”. 0px 0px 5px 5px com / .a/6a00e54ed05fc288330163056cdd83970d-800wi “style =” margin Excerpts from new books iconic American novelist John Irving, Toni Morrison, plus another great novels and also new non-fiction books of established authors and newcomers.

Billy Lynn Long Walk by halftime Ben Fountain

Poignant, funny and heartbreaking, the new novel by the winner of the PEN / Hemingway and O. Henry is a price “Catch-22 of the Iraq war.”

In a person of John Irving

A gripping story of desire identity, secrecy and sexual, the latest novel by John Irving examines unrequited love – tormented, funny effect, and – and the passionate embrace of our differences

An unusual education Elizabeth pierce

> A young woman, three men, she likes to come in this insightful adulthood debut that captures the complex cleverly family, the inevitability of loss, and let go of the importance of learning.

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The transfer of power by Robert A. Caro

The fourth book in the monumental “Years of Lyndon Johnson” series shows all the narrative energy and ideas that led to her being hailed as among the “very great political biographies of modern times.”

Home Toni Morrison

In the latest novel, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison is a veteran of the war in anger and self-hatred Korean again in racist America for a lasting trauma that has left more traces than physical.

Season of the Witch by David Talbot

> selling author David Talbot gripping story of San Francisco explores the turbulent years of 1967-1982 and the men and women, the rebirth of the city.

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by Simon Mawer

School and support the British war effort, Marian Sutro of the Second World War to Paris to persuade a friend – a research physicist – to join the Allies. The outcome could influence the course of the war.

, as by Augusten Burroughs

with black humor and in-your-face counseling calls, bestselling author Augusten Burroughs, the idea of ​​self-help books with assistance “proven to overcome shyness … celibacy, bereavement, illness, “

Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power by Steve Coll

in a history of greater than the lives of the characters examined trained Steve Coll largest private and most powerful in the U.S. Big Oil and place in American politics and foreign policy.

I suck at girls by Justin Halpern

Sh * t My Dad Says always patient recognize the voice of Justin Halpern Dad, how it crackles through the pages of this new quasi-hysterical memory.

Top 10 Kindle books for May is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

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Evan Currie’s Into the Black is a throwback to gung-ho military sci-fi like Heinlein’s Starship Troopers – with less politics and philosophizing, and more stuff blowing up.

In the wake of World War III, the North American Confederation has sent its first interstellar spacecraft, the Odyssey, to explore space beyond our solar system. What its crew finds is beyond anything they could imagine: a human civilization spanning many star systems, whose history seems to have diverged from ours some two thousand years earlier. Questions about the origins of this strange civilization will have to wait, however: The Odyssey arrives on the scene just as this civilization is being exterminated by a race of mysterious, insect-like aliens. Dragged into a war not of their making, the crew of Odyssey become the only hope for the salvation of an entire world.

Into the Black starts slowly, but Currie expertly raises the stakes and ratchets up the tension so that by the halfway point, the reader finds himself eagerly turning pages to find out what happens next. This book is obviously the first in a planned series (as you might guess from the subtitle, Odyssey One), but the climax of Into the Black is suitably satisfying on its own.

Currie’s prose is occasionally clunky and I’m sure some readers will take issues with what could be taken as the glorification of war, but he won me over with his unpretentious storytelling and – most of all – the battle scenes and super-cool technology. Currie obviously knows his stuff when it comes to both tactics and tachyons. Being reasonably scientifically literate, I know that a faster-than-light spacecraft is impossible, but I completely bought Currie’s explanation of how his “transition drive” works. He’s probably blowing smoke, but it’s pretty good-smelling smoke.

This is a fast, easy, and highly enjoyable read. Currie handles with aplomb the transitions in viewpoint that are necessary in dramatizing a large-scale military conflict. A few plot holes may nag at you, but probably not until after you’ve finished the last page with a smile on your face.

Rob Kroese has been writing science fiction stories since 2nd grade, when he thrilled his teacher with the tales of Captain Bill and his spaceship Thee Eagle, which resembled a partially peeled and very overripe banana. Rob is the author of two humorous fantasy novels, Mercury Falls and Mercury Rises.

A Throwback to Classic Military Science Fiction is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

From great literature to inspiring cookbooks, May's selection of 100 Kindle Books for $ 3.99 or Less has something for everybody. Here are a few of our favorites:

Literature & Fiction

Curses! by J.A. Kazimer, $ 3.99

This hilarious and witty romp through the twisted fairy-tale world of New Never City follows "ugly stepsister" princess Asia as she tries to figure out who killed her sister, Cinderella. Asia enlists the help of the villainous R.J., a.k.a. Rumplestiltskin, who's suffering from a curse to only do good deeds.

Mystery & Thrillers

Kaleidoscope by Darryl Wimberley, $ 1.99

Jack Romaine's addiction to speakeasies and cards turns him into an unwilling recruit for a Cincinnati gangster wanting to recover his stolen cash and railroad bonds. The trail leads south to Kaleidoscope, a "beddy" for freaks when carnival season over. Unfortunately, Jack's competition is a sadistic killer.

Biographies & Memoirs

As Seen On TV by Lucy Grealy, $ 2.99

Whether she's discussing promiscuity, The New Testament, or learning to tango, Lucy Grealy's writing seduces and surprises at every turn. Wit, unflinching honesty, and peerless intelligence are the hallmarks of this essay collection.

History

Holy Wars: 3000 Years of Battles in the Holy Land by Gary L. Rashba, $ 3.99 

Today's Arab-Israeli conflict is merely the latest iteration of violence in the Holy Land. Gary L. Rashba sheds light on this unending history of conflict by focusing on pivotal battles to describe the region's 3,000 years of war, from the Israelites' capture of Jericho to Israel’s assault against Lebanon.

Kids & Teens

What Color Is My World? by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, $ 3.99

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar champions a lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Filled with engaging profiles, Abdul-Jabbar gives a nod to the inventors whose perseverance made our world safer, better, and brighter.

More Great Deals

Fast, Fresh, and Green by Susie Middleton, $ 3.99

This go-to reference for all things vegetable holds more than 100 recipes for appetizers, snacks, entrees, and side dishes. Perfect for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike, the book also features a veggie shopping guide.

Be sure to browse May's entire selection of 100 Kindle Books for $ 3.99 or Less to discover great fiction and nonfiction titles catering to all ages.

Note: Deals expire on the last day of each month. Individual books may have additional territory restrictions, and not all deals are available in all territories.

May’s Kindle Books for $3.99 or Less is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

Question: Marnie, Jazzy, Rita, and Laverne are all unique characters. What inspired them?

McQuestion: The women's ages range from early 20s to mid-70s and their personalities are diverse. My inspiration for my characters comes from my imagination as well as from every person I've ever met, every book I've ever read, and every movie I've ever seen.  

Q: The names of the ladies really match up to their personalities. Are the names of the characters important?

McQuestion: Naming characters is one of the joys of writing novels.  Sometimes the names come to mind almost as if the character stepped through a door and introduced themselves; other times it takes some brainstorming to get it right. For this book, Laverne, Jazzy, and Marnie revealed their names right away. Rita spent a few chapters incognito until I cleverly discovered her real identity. One of the secondary characters, Kimberly, was named in honor of a reader—the first person who ever emailed to tell me she loved one of my books. 

Q: Why did you decide to take these women on a road trip?

McQuestion: What could be more stressful or more fun than a carload of women driving cross country? Throw in the fact that they start off as strangers and that each has their own issues, and I knew there would be no end of story possibilities.

Q: You've written for kids, teens, and adults. What do you like about writing across age groups?

McQuestion: I love having the freedom to write for all ages. Each category comes with its own trials and joys. Kids are savvy and the quality of children's fiction today is high—doing it well is always a challenge. The novels I write for adults allow me to incorporate the type of humor and pathos that might not go over well with younger readers.  But for all my books, I believe in happy (or at least hopeful) endings.

Q: What can readers look forward to next from you?

McQuestion: I'm currently writing a young adult novel with paranormal elements. Beyond that I'm mulling over a few other ideas including another women's fiction novel, and additional books for my middle grade series. As you can tell, I like to mix things up.

A Q&A with Karen McQuestion, Author of “The Long Way Home” is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

Guest post by international bestselling author Jeffrey Archer.

In 2010, I decided to take on the challenge of writing The Clifton Chronicles, a five-volume saga that would follow the life of Harry Clifton from 1920 to 2020. All I knew for certain when I sat down to write volume one, Only Time Will Tell, was that Harry Clifton was born in the back streets of Bristol in England; his father was a docker, his mother a prostitute, and his destiny was therefore surely to be one of mundane mediocrity. But at the age of seven, Harry discovers he has a talent given to few, the voice of an angel, and overnight his whole life changes.

Now I realise what a foolhardy enterprise this might have turned out to be, as I had no idea how this tale would progress, let alone how it would be received by my readers. But as I write this blog, volume two, The Sins of the Father, is No.1 on four continents: Australasia, Africa, Asia, and Europe, and I’ve recently completed the eighth draft of volume three, Best Kept Secret. Although I may not yet have reached the Promised Land, it is no longer out of sight.

How the world has changed. I have just returned from a tour of South Africa, taking in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, where I appeared on television, took part in radio shows, was interviewed by journalists, and went to book shops where I signed every copy in sight; the old fashioned way to get your book to No.1 on the bestseller list. In fact, in 1974, I did a 17-city tour of the United States in 24 days for Kane and Abel, but not today for The Sins of the Father–that’s not what they want. Now, I write a daily blog which reaches 2.4 million readers a month, update my Facebook site, and send out half a dozen tweets, which means I don’t even have to leave my office, let alone sleep in 17 different hotel bedrooms.

For any Englishman, the final challenge, and by far the toughest, is to be No.1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. Although I achieved this with Kane and Abel, that was several years ago, and now, with only a few days to go before the U.S. publication of volume two, The Sins of the Father, I can do nothing except wait, and only time will tell.

Guest Blogger Jeffrey Archer: Grabbing the Gold Ring of Publishing is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca

* a sudden rash of glowing five-star reviews for a brand new ebook, suggesting the author has rounded up his family and friends to boost the book;

* a sudden clustering of good reviews (all reviews appearing in a four-day window, although I guess this could legitimately be a ‘cascade’ effect arising from a genuine good review);

* and they’re using stylometrics to detect similarities in language across different reviews, which might suggest they were all written by the same person under different names.

Boffins cook up a fake-review hunter bot is a post from: eBook Readers and Kindles caot-aon.ca